Necktie knot tying and retaining form



Aug. 15, 1933. A. o. P. JOUFFRAY NECKTIE KNOT TYING A-ND RETAINING FORM Filed April 14, 1952 Enventor (Ittornegs Patented 7 Aug. 15, 1933 PATENT OFFICE NECKTIE KNOT TYING AND RETAINING FORM Alexander 0. P. Jouffray, San Antonio, Tex.

Application April 14, 1932. Serial No. 605,311

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in necktie knot tying and retaining forms, of a type more particularly and specifically adapted for use in connection with what is commonly known as four-in-hand ties.

Among the numerous objects and advantages of the present invention is that of assuring neatness of appearance of the knot; comfort; economy and the saving of time in tying the knot and 10 removing the tie from the neck of the wearer and also the total invisibility of the form in the knot when the tie is being worn.

By use of the present invention even in the face of daily wear and tear to which a necktie is subjected, a continuous and uniform neatness of the appearance of the tie is obtained, in that there is a freshness of the molding of a perfect knot and the correct hang of the tie is maintained. The form will so hold the knot throughout the entire day that readjustment of the tie or knot is eliminated as will hereinafter clearly appear when description is given of the spring effect of the form on the knot to maintain the knot under gentle pressure. 25 The improved form is so shaped at its upper end as to cause the knot to fit the natural curve of the neck of the wearer of the tie without discomfort such as is often caused by an ordinary four-in-hand tie when the knot is pulled or adjusted tightly. The shaping of the upper end of the form also causes a slight hollowness in the upper half of the knot, which provides sufficient room to accommodate the shirt collar button and to prevent the knot from coming into direct contact with the button and pressing it into theneck of the wearer, which is often the case in respect to four-in-hand ties worn inthe usual well-known manner.

The present invention materially increases the wearing life of a tie in that it prevents the fabric making up the tie from wrinkling as is the case in respect to ties in their ordinary use and the device thereby eliminates the primary cause of limp and wornout ties. The wear of the tie is materially increased also by eliminating the necessity of constant adjustment of the knot and also eliminates, to a major degree, the soiling of the 'tie from the hands when adjustment of the knot is being made.

By use of the present device a neat knot of pleasing appearance may be tied without the use of a mirror. Furthermore, the tie can be removed without untying the knot by simply sliding the knot down towards the small end of the tie to thus provide a loop sufficiently large to slip the tie over the head of the wearer. If a tie not utilizing the present form is removed in this manner, the knot becomes very hard and the tie badly wrinkled whereas thepresent form prevents and over-comes this objection The present improved form is so constructed as to be invisible in the knot when once the kno is properly adjusted.

It will at once be obvious that the form is cheap and simple of construction, yet highly eflicient in operation.

Other and further objects and novel features of construction of the improved device will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved form.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the improved form.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the opposite end of the improved form.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the improved form.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the form in the first step of a knot tying operation. 1

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the second step in the knot tying operation.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic showing of the third step of the knot tying operation.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic front view showing the final knot.

Fig. 9 is a rear diagrammatic view showing of the final knot.

Describing the invention in detail having reference to the accompanying drawing, A designates the form as an entirety; B the wide end of the tie and C the narrow end of the tie.

The form is preferably composed of a light metallicmaterial of a resilient nature or of celluloid or some similar material comprising two curved or arcuate shaped blades 1 and 2, of a similar configuration arranged in separated parallel relation and joined together at their edges by a short U-shaped wall 3, leaving above and below the wall slot-like openings 4 and 5. At their opposite edges, the plates are not joined whereby there is'an opening 6 throughout the length of the plates. It is to be noted that the plates are much wider at their tops than at their bottoms with the result that in general form'the plates are of more or less heart-shape and are held in their separated parallel positions to one another by the natural resiliency of the end wall 3.

The front plate 1, at a point adjacent its upper left hand end, is provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending tongue or hook 7.

In the drawing this member is illustrated as being cut from the material constituting the plate, but it should be readily understood that the tongue could, if desired, be provided by securing a piece of material of the proper shape to the front plate.

By reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that bybending the plates into an arcuate form in cross-section, that at their upper ends their cross-section shape is of a wide U-like form, while at their lower ends their cross-sectional shape is more nearly of a V-like form.

In the use of the form for tying and retaining a knot in a four-in-hand tie, the tie is first placed around the neck of the wearer with the two ends of the tie positioned at the front of the individual. The small end of the tie is positioned in the space between the plates and the large end of the tie positioned beneath the hook or tongue '7, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the d-rawing. The tongue or hook 7 pre vents the form from sliding down the small end of the tie. Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate the next two steps in making the knot and here will be seen that-the large end of the tie is carried completely around the form, under the portion 8 of the small end of the tie and upwardly and downwardly through the loop which the large end of the tie has provided. The large end of the tie is then pulled firmly downward to form the knot 9, illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawing, wherein it will be seen that "the form is completely concealed. Fig. 9 illustrates the appearance of the knot f-rom'the rear and here it will be seen that the knot is formed with a concave 10 at its top to more comfortably fit the neck of the individual wearing the tie and to provide a space for the accommodation of the shirt collar button, as previously mentioned.

Due to the slot like portions 4 and 5 of the form, the small end of the tie slides easily in the form during the time the knot is being made. When the knot is being made some movement of the small end of the tie is necessary, When the knot is finally formed it will be pulled su flicient- 1y tight to press the two plates of the form towards one another. This tightening of the knot will cause a pressure upon the small end of the tie which is positioned between the plates, but this pressure is, however, not suff cient to prevent the sliding movement ot the smalljen'd of the tie between the plates when this movement is desired. This resilient pressure is, however, sufiicient to maintain the knot in its proper tied position throughout a long period of time.

It Will be apparent that if it is desired to re-. move the tie without untying the knot, the knot can be slid downwardly on the small end of the tie, as the small end of the tie will readily slide in the space between the plates, or to possibly better express. the movement, the plates are free to slide on the small endof the tie. This movement of the plates is, of course, against the spring pressure, but this spring pressure can be overcome when it is desired to remove the tie in the mannerdescribed.

Thus it will be seen that the improved form provides for and accomplishes all the improved results heretofore mentioned and that it further is so shaped as to make the natural molding of a knot of a pleasing and symmetrical appearance and will maintain the knot and prevent it from slipping side-ways from its natural and central position when once the knot is formed.

It will be obvious that the hook or tongue '7 need not necessarily be positioned exactly as shown in the drawing, but could extend downwardly from the center of the upper edge of the front plate 1. Furthermore, the rear plate 2, at its upper edge, can be provided with an extending tongue bent inwardly and downwardly in order to brace the knot in such a way as to place the knot, when adjusted with its lower part projecting slightly outward at a slight angle from the front of the shirt, thus providing a perfect hang for the knot. This rearwardly and downwardly extending tongue on the rear or back plate 2 of the form will also assist in tying the knot as it will tend somewhat to guide the folded parts of the necktie.

I am aware that some people tie their necktie with the large end of the tie at the right side of the neck and some with the large end of the tie at the left side of the neck. It will be obvious that the form can be bent reversed and to work with the large end of the tie at the right side of the neck rather than at the left side as illustrated in the drawing. Additionally, the form can be made of diiierent sizes so that knots of different sizes can be tied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A necktie knot tying and retaining form, comprising a pair of arcuate shaped plates of similar confi uration arranged in separated parallel resilien movable relation to one another.

2. A- necktie knot tying and retaining form, comprising a piece of spring material bent upon itself to-provide a form member composed of a pair of plates of similar configuration arranged in separated parallel and resiliently movable relation to one another. I

'3. A necktie knot tying and retaining form, comprising a pair of concaved shaped plates of a decreasing width from-their tops towards their bottoms arranged in separated parallel relation to one another, said plates being connected at one edge only whereby they are adapted to loosely receive between them one end of the tie, and the outer plate provided with an outward extension adapted to overlie the other end of the tie.

4. A necktie knot tying and retaining form, comprising a pair of concaved shaped plates of a decreasing width from their tops towards their bottoms arranged in separated parallel relation to one another, said plates being resiliently connected at one edge whereby they are adapted to loosely receive between them one end of the tie, and the outer plate provided with an outward extension adapted to overlie the other end of the tie.

'5. A new and improved article of manufacture, comprising a necktie knot tying and retaining form composed of a pair of concaved plates of a decreasing width from their tops towards their bottoms and arranged in separated parallel relation'to one another, and the outer plate provided'w-ith an outward extension.

6. A new and improved article of manufacture, comprising a necktie knot tying and retaining form composed of a pair of plates arranged in separated parallel relation to one another, and the outer plate provided with means for support ing the form upon a necktie.

7. A new and improved article of manufacture,

form composed of a pair of yieldable concaved 9. In a device of the character described, a pair of plates arranged in separated parallel relation and having connection with one another and formed to present the facial contour of a four-in-hand knot, said plates adapted to receive between them the small end of a tie, the outer plate provided with an extension, and said extension adapted to overlie the large end of the tie to retain the form within a. four-in-hand knot tied about the form.

ALEXANDER O. P. JOUFFRAY. 

